Saturday, February 21, 2009

Phragmipediums

By Robert Tanner

These orchids enjoy an extremely high profile among growers and beginners alike. The genus has probably done more in recent years to popularize orchids than any other. This has arisen from the mass-hybridizing that has taken place in parts of the world where these orchids can be raised with comparative ease and shipped to the wholesale market.

These are flattened and silvery white, with clearly visible, green-growing tips. They have a tendency to adhere to any surface with which they come into contact. In a greenhouse, they often attach themselves to the bench upon which they are growing.

Phragmipedium besseae, a plant with a flower of such brilliant red that it caused a sensation wherever it was seen. Its natural home was on the sheer rock faces of the inaccessible mountainous regions of Peru and Ecuador, and it was this precarious and impossible-to-reach habitat that kept the species under nature's wraps for so long. Invisible from the ground, it was only discovered when spotted from a helicopter flying over the area on a plant-hunting expedition.

In addition to the long large flowered kinds, there are other hybrids raised from brown colored species which given rise to a further species of the alliance. Many delightful minature varieties are now available, with a range that extends from white.

Phalaenopsis can bloom at a time, and it is not unusual for them to bloom two or three times in away and to remain in bloom for mare - It is important, however, that they continues to make new leaves at time as flowering. If too many leaves shed, you should cut off any spikes and allow the plant to grow at until it has three or four leaves allowing it to produce flowers.

Give them the room they require and they will reward you with plenty of flowers. Temperature for Phragmipediums is Intermediate-growing. Grow in 15-20cm (6-8in) pots of coarse bark chips or Rockwool. Water freely throughout the year to keep the roots evenly moist. Feed at every other watering. Provide shade in summ and give more light in winter. Height is 30-60cm (1-2ft)

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